Recreation Group Braces For Predicted Storm Over Sage Grouse

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POCATELLO, ID (September 22, 2015) The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) today responded to the just-announced Department of Interior decision that endangered species listing for the greater sage grouse is "not warranted."

"This decision and the process leading to it has unfolded exactly as we predicted in our August 28, 2015, letter to the affected agencies," announced Don Amador, Western Representative for BRC. "While agency leadership is proclaiming a great victory and collaborative success story, the reality is we will all soon become mired in avoidable litigation. It is far from certain that the listing decision will survive judicial scrutiny, and even if it does the decision comes at a great and uncertain price in the form of the sweeping land use plan amendments that were crammed through without sufficient public input," Amador added.

BRC's previous letter points to new information and changes in the plan amendments that occurred after the close of public comment. The letter further predicts that the same interest groups who insisted on a hard deadline for the listing decision on the grouse, and other species, have exerted undue influence on the planning process, yet will still be the first to aggressively challenge the "not warranted" decision in court.

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The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is a national non-profit organization that champions responsible recreation and encourages a strong conservation ethic and individual stewardship, while providing leadership in efforts to keep outdoor recreation alive and well -- all sports; all trails. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education and collaboration among recreationists.1-800-BLUERIB - www.sharetrails.org

BOISE, ID (May 31, 2016) -- Sharetrails.org/BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national trail-based recreation group, today slammed recent decisions that would severely restrict off-highway vehicle (OHV) events and trail improvements in many areas in eastern California and Nevada. The changes, in the name of sage grouse management, were demanded by a handful of preservationist special interest groups.

MISSOULA, MT (November 23, 2015) --Various organizations, led by the Ten Lakes Snowmobile Club, have filed a lawsuit challenging U.S. Forest Service planning efforts on the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The complaint, filed on November 12, 2015, in federal court for the U.S.

POCATELLO, ID (November 23, 2015) – Early last week, the BlueRibbon Coalition/Sharetrails.org joined with other recreation groups in a letter sent to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in support of a balanced approach to managing public lands as part of the Moab Master Leasing Plan.

The letter addressed to BLM serves as formal comments from OHV stakeholders. It also represents an effort between motorized and non-motorized recreation groups working together for the protection of outdoor recreation resources on public lands.